It's clear that Apple would prefer their users purchase AppleCare+ but slapping such a hefty fix cost on out-of-warranty HomePods may not sit well with everybody. If you're an Apple Music subscriber or an iTunes loyalist, you won't need to worry about any of this. But how does the sound quality measure up to existing models like the Google Home Max and Sonos One?

Apple Music doesn't yet have the same global dominance as the music streaming service Spotify. And, if you've still got the DIY itch, it also required a knife, a heater, and an ultrasonic cutter. The new smart speaker, which is designed by the Cupertino giant to offer a premium sound experience with integration, comes at a price of $349 (approximately Rs. 22,500), and is available for purchase in the US, UK, and Australia. Siri will also not let you turn up the volume so you can take the speakers to a sound level where you can hear how awful it is. That's a significant difference just for a better acoustic sound.

Unlike the Google Home, HomePod won't be able to help if you request a Caesar salad recipe. The result turned out to be unsatisfactory, with HomePod flunking the repairability test. So, unless you accidentally fall on top of it while operating a chainsaw, you can probably avoid the $279 out-of-warranty service fee. And of course, she can control any HomeKit device in the home.

It's a known fact that Apple's products work best with each other. If you agree to all of Apple's rules and do everything just like the company wants, you might have an incredible experience. More often than not, the Sonos Ones were the preferred option. Compared to the $99 Google Home or even the $179 Amazon Echo Show, Apple's price tag is just too much.

I honestly wonder what Apple's end game is here.

If you do break your HomePod cord maybe buy another one, or don't break it at all. Time will tell. With the future days of this particular device, all of its delays, and all of its quirks, Apple is as predictably frustrating as ever.